Rob Leonard - , raiders Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-17 | Full transcript (primary source).
Rob Leonard spoke at a press conference for the Raiders on September 17, 2026, following a recent game. The conference focused on the team's defensive performance and the adjustments made during the week leading up to the game.
Transcript
Leonard: Something that Max said after the game was that kind of going through the week He kind of you got to a point where it was just kind of like I'm gonna let you guys do your thing Just like don't think about anything play fast play instinctual What was the vibe that you believe you were trying to get to that defense going to the game? For me, it's always the vibe. I guess maybe the former D line coaching me I know when if you can read body language when guys are unsure of a call or whatever it may be or playing a different position that I didn't and that's kind of the same mindset every week is Eliminating those things, you know, you're trying to run your defense But at the same time you can only go at the pace at which players are comfortable to play fast, you know So that's just something I'm always very sensitive to.
Leonard: After you watched the game film Was there anything that stood out to you that you didn't see from field level that you were really happy with that? Maybe you didn't realize was was performed or going as well after the phone. No, like after the game. I do you always After you watch the film see from what the game overall I was proud of our effort There's I I challenged them on getting 11 hats in the picture Which I think is really hard if that is the standard I think we had two clips with all 11 jerseys around the ball, you know when it was tackled That's what I was most proud of.
Leonard: Just what are your personal equity and the performance he had or Sunday? Um He played fast he played physical the style of play was right on par what we're looking for. I was proud of him You know, I was proud of him trusting me and the vision That we had bringing him here and uh sticking with it and he went out and did his job.
Leonard: And your first win as a defensive play caller, I know that it's a team thing, but just for you personally What does that mean? Um, the kid get down to your belt? Uh, it was great. It was humbling. You know what I mean? That's what I told the guys. I'm very I feel humbled and blessed to uh for them trusting me and and um Very proud of the way that they the effort in play style they played with.
Leonard: When Darien Porter went down Went in and immediately made a play as they targeted him right away What did you like from his confidence in him being able to take advantage of that opportunity when it was given to him? That's that's how it should be you practice like you or you play like you practice You know and I was confident with him out there and he went and did his job.
Leonard: Do you anticipate if DP isn't good to go by Sunday's league having more opportunities like that? I'm not sure. We'll we'll it'll you know, to be honest with you. It's very competitive of of of how it'll be But I'm sure he'll play at some point.
Leonard: I guess, you know fun and enjoying that you derive from the technical preparation having to diagnose the entire offensive going up against now as a defensive coordinator And just coming up and with the being creative figuring out what's going to work each week? Yeah, um Yeah, I enjoy it. I I enjoy Alignment. I enjoy the staff being on the same page I enjoy the players buying into what we're doing the energy and them feeling like they have a chance to make a play You know, I I I live for player confidence like man. This is my turn to make a play More so than how smart I am or any of those things, you know, I'm thinking about Putting this position in a certain spot. That's his turn. Okay. How do I get this guy his turn? Those type of things.
Leonard: How much uh, well, then did you enjoy seeing a guy like trade and rookie game have a big play like that? It was great. It was great. Um It's great for his confidence and and instills him, you know, if you do stuff the right way the ball will find you.
Leonard: Robbie charges offense. How do you prepare? Knowing the potential of that offense compared to what you saw in week one from that offense? Yeah. I mean, they're very talented They're very explosive gone against mike a few times. He does a heck of a job. It's going to be a tough test and they got great players and You know this every week so It's own its own deal, you know, so You know, we got we got to be ready.
Leonard: You know better than anybody having been the dl coach the frustration for years It's max, but nobody had nobody was producing on the other side With quitty performing the way he does how much more dangerous can that even make max? um Let's see, you know The idea is more the idea is the more they're worried about the the whole front the less focus is on one guy You know, so and then let him be him, you know And that's what great teams do.
Leonard: During the preseason. It was kind of one of those things where you couldn't really show everything that was in the bag just yet obviously like really vanilla and stuff, but Was it was it kind of did you have more fun and have more freedom kind of you know being able to show like okay You know, we got some tricks up our sleep in week one? um I just don't I guess yes, but I enjoyed just being us just doing what we've been doing and more not like Getting the scheme up to me. It's more we got to Just do what we do You know how we've practiced for a long time.
Leonard: Yeah, obviously couldn't late uh in camp But uh had a pretty good game to look like on somebody what did you see from him and it wasn't pretty good defense And that he is, you know veteran leadership. He's explosive he's smart, um very similar qualities adam butler, you know and um That's good in that room in a mixture of the young guys and vets and and he's right in that category.
Leonard: McDaniel using so much emotion. Do you guys practice that communication to prep for that this week or You have to you know, I mean they they do a great job. It's very challenging and and that's uh It's really important this week communication as much as anything.
Leonard: You talked a lot about making this new identity of the defense. Do you feel like that was shown in week one? Um from a play style standpoint, there's again, I leave the game and there's like man We got to fix this or we could be better there Communication we showed up in the game. We got to get fixed um Block destruction taking the ball away, you know, we had two takeaways a fourth down stop, you know, how do we get more takeaways? um Those are the things that are the difference in winning and losing.
Leonard: At some great closing speed on one of those sacks on the league willis last week. How do you feel? Just about your overall athleticism and speed at the linebacker position between him and quay and how much does that help the defense? Helps a lot. That's why that's why we got them. You know, i'm happy they're here and um Speed helps it's a space game.
Leonard: You talk about how you empower your players a lot and they feel that even immediately after the game Max and nakobi both talked about how you said communication could have been a lot better What how um, I guess how great is it to have that confidence in those vets to know that? They know exactly what they need to do for the next time A lot I like to you know, especially with the veterans like there's we have rules and the ways we communicate But I always ask them how's this being communicated in real life? You know, he said this did you get this? Did you see the you know, whatever it may be it's a fast game out there. So I value their Opinion based on you know, I tell them what to do and how we're going to do it When the bullets are flying what's that like in reality? Are you hearing this? Is that you know? We're getting this adjustment You know the player's mind, you know how they think when they're actually playing the game So, um, that's that's always important.
Leonard: Watching twitty and max, uh feed off. How much do you think they feed off of each other off the edge? Execution fuels emotion. So You execute at a high level. Everybody's getting excited when everybody's getting excited good things happen And it's not just one person, you know, so malcolm's right in that category too. He's an energy giver He makes it play it starts head button people quit. He did that, you know as a coach you want To feel that from everybody.
Leonard: He's right where he should be he's Practice is huge You know competing and uh, he's right. He's right in the category with with everybody competing to play.
Leonard: That's good. Yeah. Thank you. Thanks. Yeah. Thanks guys.
